Lecturers at 42 further education colleges across England will strike over pay tomorrow, despite efforts to avert the walk-out, a union said today.
But successful talks at 21 other colleges have halted the planned strike action, the lecturers' union Natfhe said. Seven more union branches are considering calling off the walk-out.
Staff are angry over the refusal of colleges to implement a nationally agreed pay deal worth an average rise of 8%. A further five colleges will strike on March 1.
Barry Lovejoy, from Natfhe, said talks had produced "great dividends".
"But there are still 47 colleges that have failed to reach settlements with their Natfhe branches.
"At those colleges, lecturers feel more under-valued and demoralised than ever. That's why they have resorted to strike action.
"If those colleges do not cough up, Thursday's walk-out could be the first in an escalating programme of industrial action by their lecturers."
The pay deal agreed between Natfhe and the AoC in 2003 included a 3% salary rise in 2003/04 and another 3% rise in 2004/05.
In the second year, the deal also included the introduction of a new pay structure that would give further increases, Natfhe said.
The AoC's chief executive, John Brennan, said: "The majority of colleges affected by industrial action are still engaged in pay talks.
"Most are experiencing financial difficulty due to the government's decision to starve colleges of the funding needed to allow them to match pay in schools.
"Colleges receive at least 10% less per student from the government than schools for providing the same courses.
"Fair funding would allow colleges to pay their staff more and still balance their books.
"Currently one in five is officially categorised as facing financial hardship."
